Door-closing device.



J. P. BAIR/ I -DO0R CLOSING DEVICE. APPLICATION IILED'JULY 5, i910.

Patented June 13,1911.

1n: uoR'ms Psrsns c0, WASHINGTON, n c

JOHN P. BAIR, OF BELVUE, KANSAS.

DOOR-CLOSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented rule 13, 1911.

Application filed July 5, 1910. Serial No. 570,311.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. BA'IR, citizen of the United States, residing at Belvue, in the county of Pottawatomie and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object an improved construction of device designed to be attached to a door, to swing the same to a closed position after a party has passed therethrough, the device being composed of comparatively few parts that may be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled and that will close the door softly and not too quickly, while at the same time, the adjustment of the parts render the device capable for use in holding the door completely open, as well as make it susceptible for use only in closing the door, by which latter adjustment it will be made particularly applicable for use in connection with screen doors that are not required to be held open.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door closing device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the device detached; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, a part being broken away; and, Fig. 4 is a perspective View illustrating the arrangement of parts for use in connection with screen doors.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved door attachment comprises a base plate 1 which is formed with any desired number of screw holes to receive screws or similar fastening devices by which it may be secured to a door frame, the device being intended for location close to the hinged edge of the door. The base plate 1 is formed with spaced arms 2 projecting outwardly and preferably rearwardly therefrom to some extent as shown, said arms forming between them a slot 3 and each being formed with an apertured car 4 designed to receive a pintle 5 on which the apertured head 6 of an actuating rod 7 is pivotally mounted. The rod 7 is formed intermediate of its ends with a hook 8, the rod being preferably so disposed that the hook will face inwardly toward the door. The hook 8 is designed for engagement by the looped end 9 of a coil spring 10, said spring being connected at its opposite end to a chain 11, or similar flexible member designed for connection to the base plate 1.

When the device is used for ordinary doors, the flexible connecting member 11 is passed through a ring 12 secured to the base plate 1 and projecting at right angles from the outer face thereof, the rear end of said member being slipped over, or otherwise secured to the hooked lug 13 formed on the base plate at the rear edge thereof and preferably, outwardly offset, as clearly illustrated in the drawing. By this arrangement of the parts, the chain being secured to the base plate by the ring 12 substantially at a point in eccentric relation to the center of rotation of the actuating rod 7 it is obvious that after the door has been swung one-half way open, the actuating rod will pass the center and the spring 10 will exert, its tension in the opposite direction to continue the movement of the door toward open position tending to hold the door open as well as fully closed.

When it is desired to use the device in connection with a screen door which ordinarily does not require to be held open, the connecting member 11 is not passed through the ring 12, but directly through the slot 3, and is engaged with a hooked lug 14 formed on the rear edge of the base plate 1 in alinement with the slot. 15 designates a screw eye which is designed for attachment to the door so as to effect a sliding connection between the door and the relatively free end of the actuating rod 7.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved door closing and opening device will be apparent. In assembling the parts for use on ordinary doors after the base plate has been secured to the door frame or casing, the screw-eye 15 is secured to the door and one end of the actuating rod 7 slipped inside the eye. The hook 8 facing the door. The spring 10 is then slipped over the hook 8 and the chain or other flexible member is passed through the ring 12 and engaged on the lug 13 after which the apertured head 6 of the rod 7 is passed in between the ears 4 and the pintle 5 slipped into place and held by eyes or other fastening devices. The same manner of assembling the parts is proceeded with in connection with screen doors, except that the flexible connecting member is passed directly through the slot 8 and engaged with the lug 11 instead of being passed through the ring 12 and engaged with the lug 13.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A device of the character described, comprising a base plate, an actuating rod pivotally connected to the base plate, means for slidingly connecting the actuating rod with a door, the base plate being provided With a ring and a lug back of the ring and a contractile spring connected to the rod, and a flexible connecting member secured to the spring and passing through the ring and connected to said lug.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. BAIR. [Ls] Witnesses:

' GEO. B. BAIR,

JOSEPH M. STEELE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

